When Yamaha marketed the 2008 Star Raider as a 'chopper-inspired,' 'performance-based custom,' I was curious to see how they would When Yamaha marketed the 2008 Star Raider as a 'chopper-inspired,' 'performance-based custom,' I was curious to see how they would pull off this oxymoron. When motorcyclists think of 'choppers', 'performance' is not the first thing that comes to mind. A bike with a tricked-out rake, raised handlebars and a hunkin' front wheel do. Star borrowed cues from this gene pool of classic styling for the 2008 Raider, but that is where the resemblance to a chopper ends. The Raider is no 'Captain America.' This thing would blow the socks off Peter Fonda's iconic scoot. Read the full test at www.motorcycle-usa****

A middleweight Ducati Superbike is not exactly a new concept, so why is there so much buzz about the release of the 2008 Ducati 848 Superbike? At first glance the 848 appears to be a de-tuned and rebadged 1098. In fact, the new bike shares the majority of its basic architecture with 1098 but at the heart is a purpose built L-Twin Evoluzione powerplant that purportedly puts out an impressive 134 hp and 96 lb-ft of torque. To put that into perspective, its 11 hp and 25 lb-ft of torque more than the Testastretta-powered 998. Watch the video and then read the full review at www.motorcycle-usa****

Pirelli World Superbike engineers have been hard at work for the last four years developing a race rubber that can handle the 200-plus horsepower loads over 90-km race distances. This race track R&D trickles down to the street riding enthusiast in the form of the all-new Pirelli Diablo Rosso tire.
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